HISTORY of the PARISH CHURCHES

ST. AUGUSTINE / ST. THERESA

ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH

In 1935 St. Augustine's Church on Townline Road became a parish.  However, the church itself became a reality in 1915.  It was the establishment of the Grand Trunk railroad station in Baird that gave Father LaBelle, a Jesuit, the idea that it would be a good location to build a church.  Backed by 15 French-Canadian families in the area including portions of Oliver Road, Townline Road, and John Street Road they put both their willingness to toil and their skills together and went to work.  The 15 families were: Allen, Beauclair, Belanger, Berube, Bisson, Benefant, Cahier, Couture, Foucault, Legros, Methot, Perrier, Renaud, Ross and Vaillant.  The land was donated by R. Ross, and local merchants were solicited for donations.  The first pews were handmade and the interior of the church consisted of two narrow side aisles.  Heat was supplied by a wood burning stove at the rear of the church, and coal oil lamps on the walls were used for lighting.

From 1915 to 1935 the church, dedicated to St. Ann was a mission attached to St. Andrew's church run by the Jesuit Fathers in Port Arthur (now part of Thunder Bay).  The Scalabrini Fathers served for a time in the parish before the Diocesan Priests assumed the pastoral care of the congregation when it was established as St. Augustine's Parish.

In 1928 electric lights were installed.  The pews were cut and rearranged to form a center aisle with two side aisles next to the walls.  In 1963 and 1964 the whole interior was renovated and redecorated under the direction of Father J. Favotto.  The Vaillant brothers did the plastering and modern light fixtures installed by the Dohertys.  However in October, 1967 the furnace in the basement caught fire and with the help of the Murillo Volunteer Fire Brigade it was soon put out and again parishioners used their skills and labour so that the church was soon back to normal.  The windows given a soft stained glass effect and new pictures showing the Way of the Cross were hung in 2000 was renovated by Albert Schulzki.  The sanctuary was rearranged to conform with new regulations. The church under went several renovations through the years.

With the dedication of the following priests this country church continues to serve the faithful in the traditions of the early parish families: Fathers LaBelle, Richard, Baker, Mulligan, Burns, Regan, McGivney, McHugh, Helpin, Cano, Favotto, Turner, Trembly, Pottie, Donnelly, and Father Henryk Augustynowicz.  Reverend  Bill McKinnon was ordained as a Deacon in 1987.  Through his devotion and dedication he assisted at Mass and unselfishly served the sick and elderly of the parish.  Rev. McKinnon passed away in 2002.

ST. THERESA CHURCH

St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church in the village of Kakabeka, originally a Jesuit missionary in the early 1950s, has grown to become an important sanctuary for the devout Catholic families in the surrounding rural areas.

Since its conception as a missionary post served by the Jesuits in the early 1950s, St. Theresa’s parish in Kakabeka Falls has been blessed with fervent and zealous priests.

One of these priests instrumental in starting the missions of Shebandowan and Kakabeka Falls was Father Joseph Cano, then parish priest of St. Augustine’s Church, Baird.  He traveled 170 to 200 miles every Sunday to bring the word of God to devout parishioners.  Without a place of worship those early days, parishioners homes were offered for Sunday mass.  In Kakabeka Falls the home of Sjaan Charron, was one of the first where the faithful gathered for mass twice a month said by Father Cano.

The development of the parish was through the efforts of Father Joseph Favotto, a Scalabrini priest from Chicago who came to the area in the spring of 1960 as a summer replacement, but stayed for 19 years.  From its first beginnings when Mass when was held in the home of the Delvecchio family to the natural thought by Steve Dudzinski that "Kakabeka deserves a church" other well known long time residents Doherty, Pitton, Sergey and many other dedicated church goers gave of their time and talents to the construction of a new church.

On April 29th, 1962, a ground breaking ceremony was held.  Steve Dudzinski took on the job of being both architect and contractor, and with other devout parishioners, who willingly offered their labour, the task of building a church began.

The original property, a 50 ft lot, was purchased for $1.00 by Father Joseph Cano.  It was through the generosity of one Mr. Tomlinson, a non-Catholic that the two lots north of the church were acquired.

On August 25, 1968 the completed A-frame country church was formally opened and for nearly four decades the parish has been blessed with fervent and zealous priests who have served not only as spiritual leaders but also as friends of the congregation.  Four years later on August 27th. in 1972 the parishioners, along with the Catholic Women's League held a mortgage burning ceremony.

A debt of deep gratitude is owed to all the parishioners of St. Theresa's Church, who through their dedication and hard work built God’s church, enabling us to celebrate this wonderful occasion. 

St. Augustine's / St. Theresa’s Church Parish Priests:

Father Joseph Cano 1951-1959; Father Joseph Favotto 1960-1979; Father Ernest N. Tremblay 1980-1984; Father Anthony Turner 1984-1986; Father Kenneth Pottie 1986-1990; Father Ciaran Donnelly 1990-1997; Father Henryk Augustynowicz 1997- present

Page 2 - The Mission Churches of St. Augustine's / St. Theresa's Parish

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